Question

Describe and exemplify questionnaires prepared by renowned authors to detect learning behaviors along with the analysis of preferred (representational) cognitive models of the college students

Answer 1

According to the neuro-linguistic theory, the comprehension of information is carried along several cognitive resources such as: examples, analogies, and code execution; visual descriptions, diagrams and graphic representation and source code and textual descriptions of the software. Different learning situations and mental tasks require a Context-Specific Preferred Representational System (PRS)for learning. Allport developed the cognitive style model according to which people may show a common habit or a notably personal way of solving, thinking, noticing and recalling problems. Cognitive style is how subjects process information and prefer to learn.

To this end, Fleming presented a questionnaire to identify the preferences of students for particular modes of information representation (Fleming, 1995). The questionnaire consists of 16 questions that have, each one, an option related to a specific representational system. The questions delve into common software engineering situations and the participants can choose more than one option when answering it, indicating multiple preferences of representational systems. The questionnaire can thus help educators to develop strategies to communicate with students.

For instance, using Fleming’s questionnaire, one can study the particular representational systems preferences in strident of software engineering, mathematics, literature, design etc . To determine which  methods and techniques correspond to the field specific requirements for visual, abstract, logical, textual and kinesthetic resources.